Bad day behind the wheel: Woman flees accident, gets in another one

Friday

May 23, 2008 at 12:01 AMMay 23, 2008 at 11:20 PM

A 19-year-old Missouri woman who sped off in a van after slamming into a sign at a fast-food restaurant managed to elude authorities -- until she became involved in another accident a few minutes later.

Staff reports

A 19-year-old woman who sped off in a van after slamming into a sign at a fast-food restaurant managed to elude authorities -- but only until she became involved in another accident a few minutes later.
The first accident was reported at 6:10 p.m. when the woman hit the sign used to place food orders at a McDonald’s, then left, according to the Camdenton Police Department. She was driving a mini-van with two children inside.
Officers were on their way to the scene of the accident when a vehicle matching the description wrecked in the parking lot of a restaurant down the street.
When officers arrived, the woman was outside the vehicle holding her two children. She suffered cuts and bruises to her arms and legs, and she refused medical treatment for her and the children. The woman told authorities she had taken the vehicle without permission.
After fleeing McDonald's, the woman took several back roads in an attempt to dodge police, failed to stop at a stop sign and went down an embankment into the parking lot at CJ’s Restaurant.
With approval from the Division of Family Services, police turned over the 1-year-old and 2-year-old children to a family member.
The woman was taken to the Camden County Jail and was later released pending formal charges. She faces a string of charges including two counts of child endangerment, leaving the scene of a motor vehicle accident, property damage and operating without a valid driver's license.
Damage to the landscaping and sign at McDonalds was estimated at $16,000.
Lake Sun Leader